Lighting fixture



Feb. 10, 1931. J. M. coLuccl 3 1886 f LIKGHTING FIXTURE Fiied Sept. 27. 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVE N TOR 0 ween,

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ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1931. cg ucc 1,791,886

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm INVENTOR 4 J0 Oil woo,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 j UNITED STATES rarer OFFICE JOHN M. coriuoor, or BRooKLrm IvEw YORK, assienon, BY irrnsivn ASSIGNMENTS,

TO PHILIP SILBERHARTZ,

JACOB SILBEBHARTZ, AND HARRY SGHETNER- LIGHTING FIXTURE Application filed. September 27, 1929. Serial No. 395,490.

The present invention relates to lighting fixturesand is more particularly directed to: ward lighting fixtures of the type employing a plurality of glass panels carried in a frame about the light source. I

Lighting fiXtures=ofthis type heretofore available have generally required the provision of an elaborate frame into which each of the glass panels was permanently liked. The glass panels were frequently provided with thin metal frames, soldered or otherwise secured to the main frame, or the main frame was providedwith heavy metal members having long slots to receive the glass panels. These types of construction were expensive and the fixtures made in this manner had an undesirable amount of metal; exposed to view.

According ,to the .present invention, the frame is made up out of easily prepared castings secured to rods to form a cage-like frame. This frame-is provided with slots, clips, or receptacles adapted to receive glass panels of predetermined size. The parts of the frame which are to engage the lowerend of a glass panel are shaped so that they support the.

glass panel, while the partsof the frame engaging the upper part of a glass panel are so shaped that they merely hold it in place.

" The panels may readily be removed from the frame for cleaning or relamping,and the fixture can readily be shipped in knocked-clown condition and assembled by the dealer or fixture hanger. v V I 5 The present invention is adapted for use in both chandeliers and wall brackets and iscapable of application totthesefixtures, employing a single series of panels or any arrangement of panels. While the drawing shows all the panels wanna is easily possible, according'to the present invention, .to construct chandeliers or wall brackets wherein the panels converge or diverge.

The present invention utilizes aframe hav- 5 in g upper and lower supporting parts adapted to receive and support glass panels preferably ha'ving tapered lowerends. The upper frame part is provided with a passage through wliich'the panel is insertible, As will be shown hereafter, this upper passage maybe in the form of slots or notches in spaced apart arms, or it may be inthe form of a hole in the frame part, or it may be in the form of a C ShZLPGCl clip adapted to embrace the glass part.

The lower supporting part of the frame 18 provided with blind passages through whichthe tapered lower part of the: glass panel may be inserted to such an extent that the tapered end engages with the blind passages to prevent further movement. These blind passages may be either in the form of shouldered notchesin arms on the frame, or

may be shouldered notches insid'eof C-shaped clips, or may be merely narrower than the C-shaped clips employed for the upper guide. 7

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one embodimentin which the invention may take form it beingunderstood that the drawings are illustrated'of the invention rather than limiting the same. In these drawings: 1 F gure 1 is a perspective view delier; f 1 i Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view'taken on the line 2-2 of Figures 3 and t;

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional view" on the line 3 of Figure 2; 1 I

Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view'on the line 4 of Figure. 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5ofFigure'2; I v Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view taken approximately inthe' direction of the arrow 6 of Figure 4; and

of a chan- Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view V of the upper frame plate; p

The chandelier A shown in Figure 11s, susbody is made up of a number of vertical glass panels arranged about the light source. As there shown, the chandelier has anumber of long, comparatively wide, glasspanels 10, 10. The joints between thes'ewide glass panels. are'covered by narrow glass-panels- 11 not quite so long as the'iw'zidev panels. I. The upper part of the fixture shown in Figurel has a number of wide panels 12'and narrow 9a pended'from a canopy B; The chandelier panels 13, arranged similarly to the panels 10 and 11. These upper glass panels 12 and 13 may have the same ornamental design the long glass panels and serve to build up and improve the appearance of the upper part of the fixture.

The lower part of the chandelier body A as shown in Figure 1 is composed of a set of wide panels 14, appearing similar to the lower part of the panels 10 and covered by narrow panels 15 which appear like the lower ends of the panels 11. A still further set of wide panels 16 and narrow panels 17 are provided inside the panels 14 and 15. The low-:.r ends of the panels 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are tapered as indicated.

When looking at the chandelier from the ordinary angles of observation, one sees mercly the visible parts of these various panels which act as light diffusers. The panels are supported by clips which are practically invisible, the only part which one sees being an exceedingly small element a about the edges of the narrow panels.

In the detailed form of (xmstructizm shown in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the fixture shown is one having two sets of narrow and wide panels at the bottom instead of three sets of narrow and wide. panels, as shown i Figure 1.

In Figure 2, a chandelier support is indicated in the form of a central rod 20 secured to cross straps 21 and 21'. These cross straps support lamp socketindicated at 22, and are secured underneath one of the plates 23 of the body frame. As shown in Figure 2, the body frame member 23 is of the full size or diameter of the fixture. A number of vertical rods 24 are secured to this frame plate 23, and these rods in turn support a second large frame plate 25, similar to the plate 23. The plate 25 carries a number of shorter rods 26 which carry a lower frame plate 27. The upper large frame plate 22 supports a number of rods 28, similar to the rods 26, and these rods in turn support.- an upper frame plate 29, similar to the plate 27.

These plates are each preferably in the form of light, skeletonized castings and, for convenience, are shown in the drawing as arranged for an octagonal fixture. t is, of course, understood that the fixture may have any number of sides. may have the configuration of various closed figures for chandeliers, or may have other shapes suitable for brackets.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plate 23 has an inner octagonal ring 30 and eight radial members or spokes 31. Outside these radial members is a second octagonal ring made up of the members 32, and this ring in turn supports eight radially extending members 34. The radial members 31 and 34 are provided with vertical slots 35 and 36. while the r1ng 32' is provided with long slots 37.

The outer end of the members 34 is provided with a C-shaped clip or glass guide 38, having inwardly extending members 39. The slots 35 and 37 are closed olf at the bottom by thin sheet metal plates 40, preferably soldered to the ring 23.

The ring 25, as above stated, similar to the ring 23, and the corresponding parts are indicated by the same character references. In this lower frame member the slots 36' do not extend all the way through-the radial members 34. They are blind, or shouldered, as indicated more clearly in Figure 6. The clip members 38 in this lower frame plate also have blind or shouldered slots 39, as indicated more clearly in Figure 6. These shoulders are adapted to engage the edges of the tapering end of the glass panel and prevent their dropping through the slots. The slots embrace the sides of the glass and guide it against the shoulders.

The lower frame plate 27 as shown in Fig ure 5, is in the form of a single ring having eight radially extending members 41, simllar in every respect to the radial members 34 on frame plate 25. As shown in Figures 2 and 7 the upper plate 29 has eight radially extending members 42 provided with through slots 43 and open C-shaped clips 44.

The fixture body of Figure 2 is intended to employ eight long, large glass panels 50, which may be substantially like the panels 10 in Figure 1. This fixture also employs eight long, narrow panels 52, corresponding with the panels 11 of Figure 1. The upper part of the fixture of Figure 2 is made up of eight short, wide panels 53, similar to the panels 12 of Figure 2, and eight narrow panels 54, similar to the panels 13. The lower part of the fixture of Figure 2 is made up of wide, short panels 55 and narrow, short panels 56, similar to the panels 14 and 15 of Figure 1. The lower portions of the panels 50, 52, 55 and 56 may be tapered, similar to those shown in Figure 1.

When one desires to assemble the chandelier, the frame, with sockets attached and Wired in, is supported in some convenient manner. The inner lower panels are passed down through the slots or notches 35 in the frame member 25 until the tapered lower portion of these glass panels reaches the abutment or shoulder provided in the blind slots 36. The narrow panels 56 are passed down through the elongated slots 37 in the frame member 25 and between the sides of the clips 41 until the tapered lowered ends abut against the blind slots 39. The upper wide glass panels 53 are passed down through the slots or notches 43 in the upper frame member and enter the slots or notches 35 in the frame member 23. The lower edges of these upper glass panels 53 rest on top of the sheet metal plates 40. The narrow glass panels 54 are passed down through the clips 14 and are received in the elongated slots 37. These narrow glass plates also, rest on the.

conveniently be made up-in the form of thin castings. Each fixture of the type shown in Figure 2 will have two large rings or plates and two small rings or plates The pairs'of plates are cast alike, that is to say, they are provided with through slots and 37 and with blind slots 36 and 39. To complete the upper plate these blind slots are filed clear and the stop plates 40 are added. The plates 27 and 29 are also made from identical castings in a similar manner. Instead of using identical parts for forming the upper and lower C-shaped guides and filing out the extra metal, it is, of course, obvious that a C-shapcd clip slightly narrower than the body of the panel may be used to engage the tapered end only of the glass. If one desires to make up a fixture of the type'shown in Figure 1, the castings would generally resemble the larger plates of the fixture of Figure 2., ex-

cept that they would be of alarger dimension.

The lower part of the fixture wvould, of course, have the requisite number of suspended rings to accommodate the number of sets ofpanels which the design required. I V

Where one desires to make wall brackets, one could employ, for example, two semi- .circular castings, similar to therings 27 and 29, and support wide and narrow panels in an obviousmanner, It. will, of course, be understood that one can employ the invention n fixtures havingany number of glass panels, the octagonal arrangement being selected merely for convenience. Where the on of the fixture requires that the glass panels lie-downwardly converging, the frame members are constructed so that the glass receiving clips are at the proper angle to receive and support the panels.

It is obvious that the invention may-be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms Vari ous modificationsand changes beingpossi-ble,

I do not otherwise limit myself inany-iway with respect thereto. I 1 f r a What is claimed is; i V i '1. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel having. a tapering lower end and a framehaving upper and lower supporting parts, thenpoer artfbein orovided with a nas'sa e a through which"the panel is insertible,.the

lower supportingfpart having a passage slightly narrower than the bodyof the glass panel and through which the-tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the tapered "end engages therewith to prevent further movement. v V

2. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel having a tapering lower end and a frame having upper and lower supporting parts, the upper part being provided with a passage through which the panel is insertible, the passage being formed by inwardly facing clips'carried at the outer end of an arm narrower than the panel, the lower supporting part having a passageslightly narrower than the body of the glass panel and through which the tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewith to prevent further movement.

3'. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel hav ing a tapering lower end and a, frame having upper and lower supporting parts, the up per part being provided with apassage through which the panel is insertible, the passage being formed by notches cut in the adjacent sides of two adjacent arms ofthe frame part, the lower supporting part having a pas sage slightly narrower than the body of the glass panel and through which the tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewithto prevent further movement.

4:. I11 a lighting fixture, a glass panel having a tapering lower end and a frame having upper and lower supporting parts, the upper part being provided with'a passage through which the panel is insertible, the lower sup porting part having a passage slightly narrrower than the body of the glass panel and through which the tapering l'owerend is insertible to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewith to prevent further movement, thelpassage being formed by inwardly facing shouldered clips carried at the outer end of an'arm narrower than the panel;

5. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel having a tapering lower end and a frame having upper and lower supporting parts, the upper part being provided with a passage through which the panel is insertible, the lower supporting part having'a blind passage through which the tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewith to' prevent further movement, the blind passage being formed by notches out part way through the adjacent arms ofthe lower frame part. f

6. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel-having a taperinglower end and a frame having upper and lower supportingparts, the upper part being providedwith a passage through which the panel is insertible, the passage beingformed by inwardly facing clips carried "atthe outer end of an'arm narrower than the panel, the lower supporting part having a passage slightlynarrower than the body of the glass panel and through which the tapering lower end is insert-ible-to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewith to prevent further movement, the passage being formed by inwardly facin sholildered clips carried at the outer end or an arm narrower than the panel.

7. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel having a tapering lower end and a 'rzune ha ving upper and lower supporting parts, the upper part being provided with a passage through which the panel is insertible, the passage being formed by notches cut in the adjacent sides of two adjacent arms of the frame part, the lower supporting part having a blind pa ssage through which the tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the tapered end engages therewith to prevent further movement, the blind passage being formed by notches cut part way through the adjacent arms of the lower frame part.

8. In a lighting fixture, a glass panel hav iug a tapering lower end and a frame having upper and lower supporting parts, the upper part being provided with a passage through which the panel is insertihle, the lower supporting part having a passage slightly narrower than the body of the panel and through which the tapering lower end is insertible to such an extent that the'tapered end engages therewith to prevent further movement, both of said frame parts being narrow and the edges of the oanel being bare between the supporting parts.

9. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a glass panel having uncovered longitudinal edges, of a guide and support for the upper portion thereof, said guide and support being in the form of a thin rigid C- shaped member through which the panel is slidable.

10. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a glass panel having uncovered longitudinal edges and a tapering lower end, of a guiding and supporting means for the upper and lower portions thereof, the upper supporting means being in the form of a rigid C-shaped member through which the panel is slidable, the lower supporting means be' similarly shaped but narrower than the wi e part of the panel to admit only a part of the tapered lower end of the glass panel.

11. In a lighting fixture, a substantially horizontal lower frame member having outwardly extending C-shaped guides arranged to receive a glass panel extending at right angles thereto, the guides having. upwardly opening shouldered notches inside the end portions of the C. I

1 In a lighting fixture, an upper frame member having outwardly extending spaced apart arms, the ends of the arms terminating in C-shaped guides arranged to receive glass panels extending through the guides, t ie sides of the arms having opposed transverse notches to slidably receive glass panels.

mr- :ors of the (3, the sides of the arms havnn imposed transverse. upwardly opening, shouldered notches adapted to receive and support a glass panel.

ll. In a lia'htln fixture an none" frame 1 A r- I a i member having outwardly erateudur spaced uatmg s apart arms, the ends of the arms tarmi lass D in C-shaped guides arranged to receiv panels extending through the guides, the ides of the arms having opposed transverse notches to slidably receive panels, a lower frame member having outwardly extending spaced apart arms, the arms terminating in C-shaped guides arranged to receive the panels passed through the upper C-shaped guides and having upwardly opening shouldered notches at the end portions of the C, the sides of the arms of the lower frame member having opposed transverse, upwardly opening, shouldered notches adapted to reccive and support the second mentioned gl s panels.

15. In a lighting fixture having a plurality of narrow and wide glass panels alternately arranged with the narrow panelsoutside the wide panels and covering the edges of the same, a frame having a thin upper frame part and a thin lower frame part, the upper frame part having passages engagcable with the edges of the panels through which they are 1nsertible, the lower supporting part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of the glass panels, the edges of the panels being bare between the supporting parts. 16. In a lighting fixture having a plurality of narrow and wide glass panels alternately arranged with the narrow panels outside the wide panels and covering the edges of the same, a frame having a pair of thin frame parts, one above the other, the said upper frame part having passages engageable with the edges of the panels through which they are insertible, the said lower supporting part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of the glass panels, the edges of the panels bein bare between the supporting parts, and a third frame part underneath the said lower frame part, the said lower frame part having passages engageable with the edges of an additional set of similarly arranged wide and narrow panels and through which they are slidable, the third frame part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of said additional set of panels.

17. In a lighting fixture having a plural ity of narrow and wide glass panels alternately arranged with the narrow panels out side the wide panels and covering the edges of the same, a frame having a pair of thin frame parts one above the other, the said upper frame part having passages engageable with the edges of the panels through which they are insertible, the said lower supporting part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of the glass panels, the edges of the panels being bare between the supporting parts, and a top frame part above the said upper frame part and having passages engageable with the edges of additional similarly arranged wide and narrow panels and through which they are slidable, the upper frame part of the pair having receptacles to receive the lower ends of said additional panels. 7

18. In a lighting fixture having a plurality of narrow and wide glass panels alternately arranged with the narrow panels outside the wide panels and covering the edges of the same, a frame having a pair of thin frame said clips.

JOHN M. COLUCCI.

parts one above the other, the said upper frame part having passages engageable with the edges of the panels through which they are insertible, the said lower supporting part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of the glass panels, the edges of the panels being bare between the supporting parts, a top frame part above the said upper frame part and having passages engageable with the edges of additional similarly arranged wide and narrow panels and through t which they are slidable, the upper frame part of the pair having receptacles to receive the lower ends of said additional panels, and a third frame part underneath the said lower frame engageable with the edges of an additional set of similarly arranged wide and narrow panels and through which they are slidable, the third frame part having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of said additional set of panels.

19. A lighting fixture comprising a'plurality of long narrow and long wide glass panels having tapered lowerends, these panels being alternately arranged with the narrow panels outside the wide panels and covering the edges of the same, a plurality of short narrow and. short wide glass panels alternately arranged above and within the long panels with the narrow short panels outside the wide short panels and covering the edges of the same, a plurality of short narrow and short wide panels having tapered lower ends and disposed below and within the long panels with these narrow short panels outside these wide short panels and covering the edges of'the same, and a frame having four superposed frame parts the upper of each of two adjacent frame parts having passages engageable with the edges of the adjacent panels through which they are insertible, the lower of said two adjacent frame parts having receptacles to receive and support the lower ends of the adjacent glass panels, the exposed 

